LaMalfa, California congressman, remembered as agricultural advocate

Published 1:29 pm Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Republican party stalwart, fourth-generation rice farmer, died Jan. 6

Agricultural leaders and politicians including President Donald Trump mourned California Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who died at age 65 on Jan. 6.

LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer and business owner, was a staunch Republican who represented a rural district in Northern California, supporting the issues most important to farmers and ranchers.

“Congressman LaMalfa cared deeply for the people he served and worked tirelessly to hold the government to its word, to fix our forest mismanagement, build our water storage, and leave people to be free to choose what is best for themselves,” read a statement on his Facebook page announcing his death.

He is survived by his wife Jill and four children.

LaMalfa served in Congress starting in 2013. He was chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and part of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. 

He previously was a California state assemblyman from 2002 to 2008 and a state senator from 2010 to 2012.

A special election using current maps for California’s First Congressional District will be held to choose LaMalfa’s successor, who will serve the remainder of his term. 

The position also will be up in the November general election, which could feature gerrymandered maps favoring the Democratic Party.

Agricultural background shaped public service

Shannon Douglass, president of the California Farm Bureau, said in a statement that LaMalfa’s personal ties to agriculture shaped a lifetime of public service and advocacy.

“He was proud to represent agriculture and the rural communities of Northern California, bringing the voice of farmers and ranchers to every forum he entered and wearing his deep roots in farming with humility and pride,” Douglass said.

“Doug believed deeply in securing a strong future for farming and ranching. His passion for agriculture, his love of community and his commitment to service will leave a lasting legacy,” she added.

In its December and January newsletter, the Klamath Water Users Association said LaMalfa was a consistent voice for reliable water deliveries, balanced natural resource policy and common sense reform. He elevated the importance of science-based water management, infrastructure investment.

“We are devastated by the loss of Congressman LaMalfa, who was a resolute and dedicated voice for rural America and its people,” said Elizabeth Nielsen, KWUA executive director.

LaMalfa represented the heart of the nation’s walnut industry.

“He brought a practical, down-to-earth approach to solving real challenges facing agriculture, including supporting walnut growers navigating crop disasters and market pressures,” said Robert Verloop, executive director and CEO of the California Walnut Board and Commission.

“He understood the economic challenges growers faced, approached those issues with empathy and consistently worked across the aisle to pursue solutions that protected livelihoods and the rural landscapes he so proudly represented,” Verloop added, in a news release.

Politicians respond to LaMalfa’s death

President Donald Trump expressed his “tremendous sorrow” at LaMalfa’s death on Jan. 6, describing him as a “fierce champion on California water issues.”

He added he could always count on LaMalfa’s support.

“I was really saddened by his passing,” Trump said.

Democratic Party Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington called LaMalfa a friend and ally on western natural resources in a social media post. She added that he “reliably rolled his eyes at the self-important characters” in Washington, D.C.

Fellow Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz of Oregon worked with LaMalfa on Klamath water issues, Secure Rural Schools, responsible forest management, wildfire prevention and wolf delisting.

“Doug was a thoughtful lawmaker who truly understood rural America because he lived it. He never lost sight of who he served, and he never stopped fighting for the people back home, who often felt that their way of life was under attack,” Bentz said, in a statement.

“His work left a lasting impact on the West and the families who depend on our forests, farms, and ranches,” Bentz added.